Reflection for Funeral of Sr. Mary Carmel

by Sister Jennifer Miller

Grace. Grace emerged as the common theme in today’s readings.

The reading from the Gospel of Matthew invites us to be aware of our surroundings, especially in nature, and so to trust in God’s providence. “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them…Consider the littles of the field…even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.” Grass grows, trees flourish, birds chirp, lilies abound—all given to us freely, gracefully, from the hand of God. And yet we humans worry–about life, about work, about our food, our drink, our clothing—even though our needs are obviously known and catered to by God. As we seek God, as we work with God, we are assured that we will receive what is required…

“…And more,” says the first letter of John. “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. We are God’s children, God’s heirs through grace.  This adoption is not a legal status, but a participation in the divine nature, beginning at baptism. We are full heirs. The Father tells us, ‘Whatever I have is yours. You are mine.’ Like Christ, this adoption involves trials and suffering, but we are cherished as sons and daughters, given hope and purpose today, and a heritage that is unimaginable.

The reading from Ecclesiastes grounds us in the present. We live as the beloved of God, children of grace, through the rhythms of the seasons. We trudge through winters of hardship. We dig in the promise of spring. We dance through the delight of summer. And we rake in the beauty of fall.

In a book titled “the Ethiopian Tattoo Shop,” Edward Hays tells the story of the Magic Folger’s Coffee Can. A little boy walked along a creek, following the movement of a stick in the water, lost in his imagination. As he passed through the shade of a bridge, he noticed a troll who asked, “Would you like to have the secret of happiness?”

“Oh, yes!” cried the boy, who gratefully caught the Folger’s Coffee Can thrown by the troll. “Fill it to the brim and you will be happy always,” promised the troll. The child rushed home and immediately began to stuff his toys in the can. In school, he placed his grades, his sport trophies, his academic honors in the can. But it was never full. As a young man, he added good time, special friends, a wife, children, cars, a beautiful home, a successful career, stocks, property, pleasures, and even an elected office. But the coffee can was still not full to the brim.

In his old age, the man was making final arrangements for a gigantic corporate deal which would make him the richest man in the world. While he was stuffing the paper into his old Folger’s Coffee Can, he was struck with a fatal heart attack. As he stumbled forward, the can slipped from his hand and flew out the office window.

It bounced on the pavement and finally rolled down a tree-lined street. It came to rest in a yard where a little girl played. Immediately she noticed something the richest man in the world had missed. The can had no bottom! She held it toward the sky and filled it with the light of the sun. She held it up to a bird and it was filled not only with the beauty of the creature, but also with its song. She filled it with people and flowers. Then she called out, “Oh Mother, come quick. A magic Folger’s Coffee Can has rolled into the yard. I’m the richest, happiest person in the world.”

Sr. Mary Carmel was like that little girl. Throughout her hundred years, she recognized the grace of the moment. She was grateful for the wonder of life, for faith, for family, for her monastic vocation. Sharing came naturally. With her twin, Sr. Mary Carmen, she danced, played the violin, arranged flowers, appreciated beauty, dug in the earth, delighted in meeting people, teaching students, and being a principal.

She continued to thrive through the challenges of Sr. Mary Carmen’s death, a serious surgery, and decreased mobility. Moving to Scenic Hills became, for her, an opportunity to interact with a new deanery, with employees who became friends. Being a faithful fan of Mater Dei and Notre Dame was always Sr. Mary Carmel’s default setting. And celebrating her hundredth birthday was an exceptional grace. Family members from far and near gathered to reminisce. Mater Dei was represented by its president and his wife and the sisters who had been teachers and students there. Notre Dame, too, was featured in the presentation of gifts which were from the former dean of the Mendoza College of Business.

There is a time for everything. NOW has been the time for Sr. Mary Carmel’s death and resurrection. NOW is the time for us to gather as Church, to feed on the Bread of Life, to realize we are filled with the fullness of God, to live in grace.